Atlanta Hawks’ guard/forward Vince Carter is defying “Father Time” and still manages to play quality minutes in the NBA despite approaching his 42nd birthday. Seeing Carter playing into his 40s will probably get several other players inspired to stretch their basketball career a year or two, but Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving won’t be that guy.
Ahead of Friday night’s clash between Hawks and Celtics, Irving was asked whether he could see himself staying in the NBA for so long.
“No, no,” – responded Irving. “Once I’m done with this, hopefully in my early to mid-30s, I’m done with this.”
According to him, it isn’t that he will be tired of the game itself, but everything that comes with it.
“I love basketball itself,” – he added. “But everything that comes with it? It doesn’t really matter to me, in terms of my life. I enjoy the game, I enjoy being with my teammates, playing every single day. Being an NBA player, this is a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. I think everything else that comes with it doesn’t hold the same stature it once did.”
Even if he ends up retiring in early or mid-30s, there is still a lot of basketball left ahead for Kyrie Irving considering he is only 26 years old.
Irving came into the league in 2011, when the Cleveland Cavaliers took him with the first overall pick in that year’s draft. During his time in NBA, he won an NBA Championship and earned five All-Star appearances.
